James William Kilman (January 22, 1931 – December 10, 2015) was born in Terre Haute, Indiana to Arthur and Irene (Piker) Kilman. In the early part of Kilman’s life, he was a very active Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. When he was 15, he was awarded the opportunity to travel to Paris, France, for the Boy Scout World Jamboree and represent all of the scouts in the state of Indiana.
Kilman served in the United States Navy. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Indiana State University and his medical doctorate from Indiana University School of Medicine. He was a very accomplished surgeon. He held a medical license in Indiana before coming to Ohio in 1966. His research resulted in over 140 medical articles that were published in various journals. He held many titles including: Professor of Surgery and later was awarded Professor Emeritus for The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio; Consultant Thoracic Surgeon for the Veterans Administration Hospitals, Dayton, Ohio; Attending Surgeon at The Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus; Attending Surgeon and Chairman, Department of Thoracic Surgery at Children’s Hospital, Columbus; Consultant at Ohio Tuberculosis Hospital, Consultant at Doctors Hospital, Columbus; Courtesy at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Columbus; Courtesy at Grant Hospital, Columbus; Courtesy at Riverside Hospital, Columbus; Courtesy at Mount Carmel Hospital, Columbus and Professor at The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Kilman was a former president of the American Boxer Club and member of Kiwanis. He also was a member of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, American Medical Association, Academy of Medicine of Columbus and Franklin County, American Thoracic Society, Columbus Surgical Society, Society of University Surgeons, Central Surgical Association, Society for Vascular Surgery, Western Surgical Association, and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Honoree of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; past president of the Columbus Surgical Society; past president of the Academy of Medicine for Columbus and Franklin County and past president of the Medical Review Club.
Kilman was married to Priscilla for 47 years and they had three children.
The James W. Kilman, MD Papers (0.5 linear feet) contains material related to his medical career.
The collection is open to the public and is available for viewing in the Medical Heritage Center. Materials do not circulate and must be used in the supervised reading room. Restrictions, including copyright, may exist and some materials may be too fragile to photocopy or digitize. The MHC charges for duplication services, which must be performed by staff.
[Identification of item], James W. Kilman, MD Papers, SPEC.201713.KILMAN, Medical Heritage Center, Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University.